Sports, both in terms of quality and as an industry, has generally been on the rise in India. With its many domestic leagues, foreign deals and endorsements, new infrastructure, increased funding, new jobs in management, and an overall sporting atmosphere in the country, Sports are without a doubt booming in India. This boom can be observed in many different ways. Be it the stadiums being jam-packed, the broadcasting rights going for a huge price, or the millions upon millions watching a single game on any streaming platform, there are multiple indicators to determine the rise of sports in India. One of the lesser talked about indicators, and one that exemplifies the potential of India to be a sporting hub, are ‘Sports Start-ups’.
While start-ups have been emerging for a while now in India, Sports Start-ups weren’t a norm until recently. Entrepreneurs and investors alike have realized that sports is a multi-billion dollar economy, and one that’s constantly growing. Therefore, this would be an ideal opportunity to begin something novel in sports.
Growth of the Sports Industry in India
For a long time, India used to be a one-sport nation – Cricket. While for the majority of Indians, cricket is still the go-to sport in the country, one that has revolutionized the country’s dynamics and unleashed capitalism in the country like nothing else, several other sports have risen in recent times. Sports like Kabaddi, Hockey, Javelin, Wrestling, Kho Kho, Table Tennis, and Badminton are just some of them that have gained immense popularity. A large reason for this has been the varied and diverse interests of Gen-Z individuals.
Roma Datta Choubey, interim country lead for Google India, spoke to Livemint about it. She said, “We’re witnessing a surge in multi-sport fandom, growing popularity of digital platforms, and deep engagement from Gen Z, who represent the largest segment of India’s sports fan base. These trends present unique opportunities for businesses to innovate, connect with passionate fans, and drive growth across the ecosystem.”
She also touched upon how much of a vital moment this is for sports in India. Sports in India have also become extremely crucial for not only the Indian fabric of culture but also its overall economy.
A report titled “Think Sports: Unlocking India’s $130B Sports Potential” shows that out of the 655 million sports fans in India, Gen Z is leading the pack with a 43% fan base. While cricket still leads the charge with 70% of all sport-related enquiries, kabaddi (120 million fans), football (85 million fans), and kho kho are closely behind. Moreover, India’s sporting industry will grow from $52 billion in 2023 to $130 billion in 2030, according to a Deloitte-Google report. The sporting sector’s 14% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) alone is double the growth rate of India’s GDP. This is a telling tale about India’s rise in the sports industry.
What Are Sports Start-ups?
Just like any other start-up that a newly established company focused on innovating in their industry, a sports start-up does the same within the sports industry. They offer unique solutions, products, or services that have a novelty approach. It is unlike any other service out there, and it enhances the experiences of fans, athletes, and organizations freshly.
Their areas of innovation can include anything from technology to fan engagement platforms to media and content to fantasy sports platforms and others. Technologies such as wearable devices, sports analytics, and performance optimization tools, etc., are legitimate areas where startups might look to invest. Fantasy sports platforms such as Dream11 and My11Circle are already thriving in the Indian sports market.
Protege Sports Network (PSN) is one of the sports-tech start-up in India that’s doing wonders at the moment. It began as a means to provide wearable technology to all the athletes playing the sports. Pranesh Krishnamurthy, Rohit Narayan, and Rahul Rane founded this start-up in 2006. They also rely on the SAAS software for the management tools, accounting tools, that can be used by any club or organization.
Sportz Village is another example of a successful start-up that was founded in 2003 in Bengaluru. It began as a means to provide sports education to colleges, corporations, and other industries. They have since partnered with more than 400 educational institutes. Similar examples of sports start-ups exist across the nation.
List of Top 13 Sports Startups in India
Here are some of the top sports start-ups in India:
- Dream11
- MPL
- Playo
- Rooter
- Khel Now
- Athletto
- FITPASS
- Footrax
- KIBI Sports
- Nazara Technologies
- Sportskeeda
- Stancebeam
- Sporthood
Why Sports Startups Are an Emerging Opportunity for MBA Graduates?
MBA graduates in Sports Management will have a host of new job offers in front of them soon as they graduate. They will have the privilege of choosing from a variety of job designations, each with a different salary structure and work operations. However, in corporate, be it in any company, they will have a set structure of rules to follow, and their growth will happen steadily. Once they join a start-up, there is a greater chance of growing and climbing up the corporate ladder quickly.
MBA graduates will earn a significantly good salary, often higher than what established corporations offer. They will be working with greater intensity and for longer hours in the sports start-up ecosystem. But working for longer hours in a start-up could have more benefits than one normally assumes.
In a start-up, those MBA graduates will learn way more in a shorter period than they ever could’ve in any other organized sector. Additionally, given that they will be working in a sports organization after graduating from Sports Management, one can assume that they will be working on something they are passionate about and close to their heart. Therefore, the long hours might not look tedious after all.
A start-up is also a smaller group of people. Therefore, working in a sports start-up will ensure that such graduates work together in a close-knit unit. This creates an atmosphere that constantly fosters creativity, problem-solving, and solutions-approach. Moreover, the global sports network is growing every day with technological advancements and diverse career paths.
This puts MBA Sports Management graduates in a far more comfortable position to choose a start-up over other companies. They get to start their career on a good note, and they learn a lot about the industry. Sports Marketing, Event Management, Sports Analytics, etc., are all career options to choose in a start-up.
Roles MBA Graduates Can Explore in Sports Startups
Here are some of the many roles an MBA graduate can explore in sports start-ups:
- Athletic Director
- Athletic Management
- Facility Management
- Talent Scout
- Sports Agents
- Sports Venue Managers
- Sports Marketing Manager
- Fitness Manager
- Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Team Management
- Sports Analytics
- Sports Psychology Organizations Management
Best MBA Courses for Careers in the Sports Industry
To secure a career in the Sports industry, one must pursue an MBA in Sports Management. It is preferable to pursue an MBA from any reputable college, such as MBA ESG . An MBA in Sports Management will focus on areas such as Sports Marketing and Branding, Sports Finance, and Sports Law and Ethics, among others.
You can secure jobs such as Sports Marketer, Sports Manager, Sports Agent, Sports Event Manager, Athletic Director, etc., after pursuing this MBA course.
To conclude, an MBA in Sports Management is the go-to degree to achieve for anyone to build a thriving career in the sports industry. Also, given the nature and the rate in which India is developing, be it in economy or infrastructure or global appeal, sports is generally on the rise. This means that more and more start-ups will be born in the years to come. Overall, it looks like a bright and prosperous time for Indian sports is beckoning in the future.
